Matthew 3:10 (WEB)
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
Catechism · 1
“Following in the steps of the prophets and John the Baptist, Jesus announced the judgement of the Last Day in his preaching.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Dan 7:10; Joel 3-4; Mal 3: 19; Mt 3:7-12.
Fathers and councils · 51
Irenaeus of Lyons
- Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies Fragments from.30Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus
““The axe unto the root,” he says, urging us to the knowledge of the truth, and purifying us by means of fear, as well as preparing [us] to bring forth fruit in due season.” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 10.
Read the whole comment ““For every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire;” and “whosoever shall defile the temple of God, him shall God defile.”” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 10.
Read the whole comment“And it was He who rained fire and brimstone from heaven, in the days of Lot, upon Sodom and Gomorrah, “an example of the righteous judgment of God,” that all may know, “that every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down, and cast into the fire.”” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 10.
Read the whole comment“For that the word of God is likened to an axe, John the Baptist declares [when he says] in reference to it, “But now also is the axe laid to the root of the trees.”” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 10.
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Gregory of Nyssa
“And John, too,—where, representing our Lord’s power to uproot evil under the name of an axe, he says, “And now also the Axe is laid to the root of the trees”—is he not a weighty and credible witness to the truth of our words?” — editor's note: S. Matt. iii. 10.
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Cyril of Jerusalem
“…John: And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees, Every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 10.
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Augustine of Hippo
“Now, even if the branches have been broken, they can again be grafted in: then, “every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and shall be cast into the fire.”” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 10.
Read the whole comment“…whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 4–12.
Read the whole comment“Of this ax does John speak, saying, “Now is the ax laid unto the root of the trees; every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire.”” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 10.
Read the whole comment“For behold,” it saith, “the axe is laid to the root of the trees: every tree, therefore, that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down, and cast into the fire.”” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 10.
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John Chrysostom
“For having said that “God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham,” he added, “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees,”by all means making his speech alarming.” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 10. [R.V., “And even now is the axe laid,” etc.—R.]
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Jerome
“They live of the altar: I, if I bring no gift to it, have the axe laid to my root as to that of a barren tree.” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 10.
Read the whole comment“But if you wish me to write against him at greater length, send me those wretched dronings of his and in my answer he shall hear an echo of John the Baptist’s words “Now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees; therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.”” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 10.
Read the whole comment“…that to do with us upon whom the ends of the ages are come, unto whom it is said, “the time is short,” and “now the axe is laid unto the root of the trees;” that is to say, the forests of marriage and of the law must be cut down by the chastity of the gospel.” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 10.
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Tertullian
“In fact, the doctors of the law and the Pharisees, who were unwilling to “believe,” did not “repent” either.” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 7–12; xxi. 23, 31, 32.
Read the whole comment“The wood was the old order, which is being pruned down by the new Gospel, in which withal “the axe has been laid at the roots.”” — editor's note: Comp. Matt. iii. 10.
Read the whole comment“…vessel,” may thenceforward become that “tree which is sown beside the waters, is perennial in leaves, bears fruit at its own time,” and shall not see “fire,” nor “axe.”” — editor's note: Jer. xvii. 8; Matt. iii. 10.
Read the whole comment“There the blood of the Lord serves for your purple robe, and your broad stripe is His own cross; there the axe is already laid to the trunk of the tree; there is the branch out of the root of Jesse.” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 10.
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Basil the Great
“…on them that need, Scripture designates Him by innumerable other titles, calling Him Shepherd, King, Physician, Bridegroom, Way, Door, Fountain, Bread, Axe, and Rock.” — editor's note: cf. Matt. iii. 10.
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Hippolytus of Rome
“This, he says, is what is spoken: “Every tree not producing good fruit, is cut down and cast into the fire.”” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 10; Luke iii. 9.
Read the whole comment“Every tree, he says, which does not produce good fruit, is hewn down and cast into fire.” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 10; Luke iii. 9.
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Cyprian of Carthage
“In the Gospel according to Matthew: “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down, and cast into the fire.”” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 10.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
The words of the teachers should be fitted to the quality of the hearers, that in each particular it should agree with itself and yet never depart from the fortress of general edification.
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
It was necessary that after the teaching which he used to the common people, the Evangelist should give an example of the doctrine he delivered to the more advanced; therefore he says, “Seeing many of the Pharisees, &c.”
Read the whole comment - Isidore of SevilleCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Pharisees and Sadducees opposed to one another; Pharisee in the Hebrew signifies, ‘divided;’ because choosing the justification of traditions and observances they were ‘divided’ or ‘separated’ from the people by…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
When John saw those who seemed to be of great consideration among the Jews come to his baptism, he said to them, “O generation of vipers, &c.”
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
The manner of Scripture is to give names from the imitation of deeds, according to that of Ezekiel, “Thy father was an Amorite;” [Ezek 16:3] so these from following vipers are called “generation of vipers.”
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
As a skilful physician from the colour of the skin infers the sick man’s disease, so John understood the evil thoughts of the Pharisees who came to him. They thought perhaps, We go, and confess our sins; he imposes…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
When then he asks, “who will shew you to flee from the wrath to come,” - ‘except God’ must be understood.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or “who hath shewed you?” Was it Esaias? Surely no; had he taught you, you would not put your trust in water only, but also in good works; he thus speaks, “Wash you, and be clean; put your wickedness away from your…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
But if we read, “shall shew,” in the future, this is the meaning, ‘What teacher, what preacher, shall be able to give you such counsel, as that ye may escape the wrath of everlasting damnation?’
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
God is described in Scripture, from some likeness of effects, not from being subject to such weakness, as being angry, and yet is He never moved by any passion. The word, ‘wrath,’ is applied to the effects of his…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
If they ye would escape this wrath, “Bring forth fruits meet for repentance.”
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
Observe, he says not merely “fruits of repentance,” but “fruits meet for repentance.” For he who has never fallen into things unlawful, is of right allowed the use of all thing lawful; but if any hath fallen into…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
He does not forbid them to “say” they are his, but to trust in that, neglecting virtues of the soul.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
What avails noble birth to him whose life is disgraceful? Or, on the other hand, what hurt is a low origin to him who has the lustre of virtue? It is fitter that the parents of such a son should rejoice over him,…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
Because as a preacher of truth he wished to stir them up, to “bring forth fruit meet for repentance,” he invites them to humility, without which no one can repent.
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
There is a tradition, that John preached at that place of the Jordan, where the twelve stones taken from the bed of the river had been set up by command of God. He might then be pointing to these, when he said, “Of…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
He intimates God’s great power, who, as he made all things out of nothing, can make men out of the hardest stone.
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
It is faith’s first lesson to believe that God is able to do whatever He will.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
That men should be made out of stones, is like Isaac coming from Sarah’s womb; “Look into the rock,” says Isaiah, “whence ye were hewn.” Reminding them thus of this prophecy, he shews that it is possible that the…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
Otherwise; the Gentiles may be meant who worshipped stones.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Stone is hard to work, but when wrought to some shape, it loses it not; so the Gentiles were hardly brought to the faith, but once brought they abide in it for ever.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
“These stones” signify the Gentiles because of their hardness of heart. See Ezekiel, “I will take away from you the heart of stone, and give you the heart of flesh.” Stone is emblematic of hardness, flesh of softness.
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
Of stones there were sons raised up to Abraham; forasmuch as the Gentiles by believing in Christ, who is Abraham’s seed, because his sons to whose seed they were united.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
The axe is that most sharp fury of the consummation of all things, that is to hew down the whole world. But if it be already laid, how hath it not yet cut down? Because these trees have reason and free power to do…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, the preaching of the Gospel is meant, as the Prophet Jeremiah also compares the Word of the Lord to an axe cleaving the rock. [Jer 23:29]
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, the axe signifies the Redeemer, who as an axe of halt and blade, so consisting of the Divine and human nature, is held by His human, but cuts by His Divine nature. And though this axe be laid at the root of the…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
By saying, “Every,” he cuts off all privilege of nobility: as much as to say, Though thou be the son of Abraham, if thou abide fruitless thou shalt suffer the punishment.
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
There are four sorts of tree; the first totally withered, to which the Pagans may be likened; the second, green but unfruitful, as the hypocrites; the third, green and fruitful, but poisonous, such are heretics; the…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
“Therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down, and cast into the fire,” because he who here neglects to bring forth the fruit of good works finds a fire in hell prepared for him.
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Cross-references · 31
Parallel passages
Matthew 3:10 and Luke 3:9 share the same wording (21 words).
Cited together with
Cited together in On Exhortation to Chastity Chapter 5.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.17.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.17.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.17.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.17.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.17.
Cited together in The Refutation of All Heresies VI.11.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.17.
Cited together in On Repentance Chapter 4.
Cited together in The Chaplet, or De Corona Chapter 13.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 22.
Cited together in The Chaplet, or De Corona Chapter 13.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.17.
Cited together in On Exhortation to Chastity Chapter 5.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.17.
Cited together in On Repentance Chapter 4.
Cited together in The Chaplet, or De Corona Chapter 13.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.17.
Cited together in On Exhortation to Chastity Chapter 5.
Cited together in On Exhortation to Chastity Chapter 5.
Cited together in On Exhortation to Chastity Chapter 5.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.17.
Cited together in On Repentance Chapter 4.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.17.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.17.
Cited together in The Chaplet, or De Corona Chapter 13.
Cited together in On Repentance Chapter 4.
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 3:7–10 (3) (Catena Aurea) and 1 other place.
Cited together in On Repentance Chapter 4.
Cited together in On Repentance Chapter 4.